Reflex-action motor vehicle lamp



Feb. 5, 1929.

J. F. FARMER REFLEX ACTION MOTOR VEHICLE LAMP Filed Sept. 2, 1926 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Y.

teas.

REFLEX-ACTIGN MOTOR-VEHICLE LAMP.

Application filed September This invention relates to a type of motor vehicle lamp that is designed as an antiglare electric lamp having reflex action whereby a roadway may be illuminated without projecting light beams into the eyes of motor-vehicle operators approaching from an opposite direction, the inventionhaving reference more particularly to an anti-glare lamp having various improved features whereby to obtain improved results in projecting a strong light beam straight ahead. on a. road and also reflecting lighton only one side of the road.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved electric lamp which shall be so constructed as to be adapted for use in various ways not only to illuminate a roadway elliciently, but also as a spot-light when desired, while being capable of protecting o-pposii'ig drivers against blinding lights.

Another object is to provide an improved anti-glare electric lamp which shall have an improved reflecting means and which shall not be costly, but shall be adapted to be used as a. separate unit or in association with the customary pair of headlights to be switched on as may be desired when switching off the pair of lamps.

A further object is to provide an improved gnaarded spot-light reflector and a simple casing for the reflector and the necessary electric lamp, which. shall be of such construction as to be small and compact and adapted for projecting a light beam ahead beyond the casing substantially parallel to the initial beam projected direc "l from the lamp, for the protection of d ers of other nmtor-vehicles on public highways.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists principally in a novel reflex action reflector and its arrangement for projecting light on the road- Way in an improved manner, the invention consisting also in an improved lamp casing and its arrangement relatively to a motorvehicle; and further, in the novel parts and in the combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan of the forward portion of an automobile having the customary headlight lamps and provided with the improved separate anti-glare lamp in a convenient arrangement thereof; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the improved lamp unit and its sup 2, 1926. Serial lilo. 133,22'5.

porting device; Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section of the improved lamp; Fig. l is an elevation of the improved lamp stand partially broke away; and Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the improved stand.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction here in referred to in detail.

The improved lamp is illustrated as ar ranged on the forward portion of a motorvehicle as it may be conveniently carried. When applied to motor-vehicles already equipped with a pair of lamps the anti-glare lamp preferably is arranged in proximity to the left-hand side of the motor. The numeral 1 indicates the forward end portion of a motor vehicle, 2 and 3 the forward carrying wheels, l representing the left-h and lamp which is partially broken away, l representing the righthand lamp.

The casing of the improved lamp preferabl is substantially bowl-shaped, comprising a bottom or back portion 5 and a wall portion 6, the latter having an outwardly ex tending window frame flange 7 on its edge portion. A portion of the wall 6 which is normally the rearward portion, has an aperture S therein. A boxing comprising a cy lindrical main portion 9 is secured to the wall 6 so as to encircle the aperture and it has a conical end portion 10 provided with a guide collar 11 to support a lamp socket.

An improved parabolic reflector 12 is illustrated which is provided centrally with a deeply dished or depressed portion 13 to re ceive a portion of an electric lamp and to conveniently serve to assist in supporting the lamp, being centrally provided with a neck 14: aligning with the collar 11 when the reflector is secured in the casing so that the neck is received into the aperture 8. A lamp socket 15 is adjustably arranged and supported in the collar 11 and the neclr id and secured in place by means of a set-screw 16 arranged m the collar 11 to engage the socket.

The socket has a conventional head 17 in' which the terminals of electric circuit wires 18 are arranged in a conventional. manner. The shank or plug 19 of an electric lamp bulb 20 is suitably secured in the socket l5 and may be moved longitudinally by the socket for focusing the lamp in the reflector. The line 21 indicates the larger end of the parabolic reflector, and the larger end portion is of such diameter as to project out beyond the casing, but is cut away so as to have a receding portion adapting it to conform to the form of the casing, the back of the reflector having a crescent anchor plate 23 fixed thereto that is seated against the flange 7.

In the normal position of the lamp casing in use that portion of the. Wall 6 opposite to the lamp is to be considered as the fOll'L of the casing, the back being the left-hand side, so that the casing has in effect a large Window frame and opening in the normal righthaud side thereof and on an inclined angle relative ly to the line movement of the motor-ye hicle.

fr reflex-action reflector is arranged in the normally iorward portion of the casing which, though functionally different "from the parabolic reflector may be structurally integral therewith so as to constitute a portion of a con'iplete reflector structure. The reflexreflector has a side reil ctor portion rat is deepiy concaved and a reiiexing porslightly concaved, and a suptl at is 1 lg portion 25, the portions 2d and 25 e; curved to correspond to the curvature t tl e ed 'e portion of the paral'iolio reflector and being connected thereto, either integrally or otherwise. The edge of the portions l 25 being a con tinuous marginal portion,

and has a flange that is on one and the same plane With the flange 23 and is seated a inst the flange 7. Pref rably a packing ring or gasket 27 is arranged on the front of the rellector flange and directly supports the edge portion of a comavo-conver: window-glass 28 which covers the opening in the casing and protects the inside of the reflector. A retaining ring 529 embraces the edge of the windowglass and is suitably shaped to en the casing flange "i" and the front of the windowglass, the ring being non-continuous and provided on its outer side with ears 30 and 31 to which a coil spring 82 is connected to forcily contract the ring, but permitting expansion of the ring to remove it and the window glass from place when renewal or the electric lamp is required.

F or the purpose or advantageously inoun ing the lamp on a motor-vehicle in a convenient position and so to be adjustable, the normally under portion of the casing is provided with an adjusting stand which preferably comprises a base 33 secured to the easing and having a neck that normally .projects dow iwardly and has a bearing ball 35 thereon. The ball is embraced by a ball joint socket composed of two halves 36 anc 37, one of the half parts having a stand portion 38 and the other a relatively longer stand portion 39, the stand portions h aving l0 and d1 that are dctachably connected together by means o'l bolts 42 by vhich the socket parts are held more or tightly on the socket joint ball 35 to securely hold the ball when adjusted. The stand parts and 35 have base flanges 43 and thereon which together constit te a supporting base which pret' rably is incni'icd to the vertical axis of the socket to correspond to e inclination of a part of the nmtonrelricle where it may be preferred to carry the lamp.

practical use the main lamps l and 4: when pr on, a lllOtO!Y(1lll('lQ are used for lighting the rc-d but may be sWitched oil at will, and should be switched oil" or dimmed on approach another vehicle on the road. lhe improved lamp may be used continuonsly it desired, or alternately when the other lamps are so bright as to inter ere with an approaching driver. '1 casn of the im" he proved lamp cliectively prevents an approaching dii'er from seeing the lamp in the retle :tor. The i is pro ected onto the portio; efdctor and turned back onto the parabolic reflector at one side o l the lamp, and the parabolic reflector ir. turn projects a beam through the window-gl s: and past the farther portion of the c 111g, so it a strong beam 01 light is a d oil the motor-vehicle l to the cams that. are

approxiniatcly par projected dir i e reflect )ortion:-= the renector project rays laton the roadway to illuminate the right- The lamp may be 1 i A H the same time Llid vaside of the read. y adjusted to change the. direction of I beams may be found desirable to suit riot operation.

hat claimed as new is:

l. A n1otor-rel1icle lamp including a bowlshaped cac n having-an opening, parabolic rerlector arranged in the casing and having a relatii 'ely small c al depressed portion to support a lamp bulb, the reflector liavii'ig an edge portion projectii through the opening in the c i rig, a reilexing reflector arranged in the ca g opposite to the depr ed portion of the parabolic reflector, and a. w idow-glass arrang d to cover said openii outside the. project .ig portion o the parabolic reflector Q. In a motor-vi iicle lamp, the combination a howl-shaped casing having a ho: thereon provided with a. collar, the cav having a relatively oblirpie-angled Wi" its side, a pa abolic reflector arranges casing and having a depressed central portion projecting partially into the boxing, the depressed portion l'iaving a neck thereon, a socket adjustably supoortcd. in said lamp neck and said co arranged in he c socket and V i .1. in test ARMER.

i the lamp to the re- 

